Laundry machine

Abstract

A laundry dryer includes a housing, a drum, a roller, and a shield. The drum is disposed within the housing and is configured to rotate relative to the housing. The roller is rotatably secured internally within the housing and to the housing. The roller is configured to support a lower end of the drum and to rotate collectively with the drum. The shield has a base plate disposed between the roller and the housing and a plurality of auxiliary plates protruding outward from a lower end of the base plate. The plates of the plurality of auxiliary plates are aligned in an array that extends radially about a lower end of the roller. The plates of the plurality of auxiliary plates form a tray along the lower end of the roller to catch debris from the roller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry dryer comprising:
 a housing;   a drum disposed within the housing and configured to rotate relative to the housing;   a roller rotatably secured internally within the housing and to the housing, wherein the roller is configured to (i) support a lower end of the drum and (ii) rotate collectively with the drum; and   a shield having (i) a base plate disposed between the roller and the housing and (ii) a plurality of auxiliary plates protruding outward from a lower end of the base plate, wherein the plates of the plurality of auxiliary plates are (i) aligned in an array that extends radially about a lower end of the roller and (ii) form a tray along the lower end of the roller to catch debris from the roller.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the plates of the plurality of auxiliary plates are substantially perpendicular to the base plate. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the plates of the plurality of auxiliary plates each include (i) a primary portion that protrudes outward from the lower end of the base plate and (ii) a secondary portion that extends upward at an angle from an opposing end the primary portion relative to the lower end of the base plate. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plates of the plurality of auxiliary plates overlaps at least one adjacent plate of the plurality of auxiliary plates. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines orifices, and the base plate includes hooks that engage the housing within the orifices to secure the shield to the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry dryer of  claim 5 , wherein the base plate defines a notch that provides clearance for a shaft that is secured to the housing, and wherein the roller is secured to and configured to rotate about the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry dryer of  claim 6 , wherein the hooks straddle the notch. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the plates of the plurality of auxiliary plates form an open polygon. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1  further comprising a fastener, wherein the base plate defines an orifice, and wherein the fastener extends through the orifice and engages the housing to secure base plate to housing. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , wherein a center of the array is offset from a bottom dead center of the roller. 
     
     
         11 . A roller shield comprising:
 a primary plate configured to engage a laundry machine framework to secure the roller shield to a laundry machine; and   a plurality of secondary plates protruding outward from primary plate, wherein the plates of the plurality of secondary plates are configured to (i) align in an array that extends radially about a lower end of a laundry machine drum support roller and (ii) form a tray along the lower end of the laundry machine drum support roller to catch debris from the laundry machine drum support roller.   
     
     
         12 . The roller shield of  claim 11 , wherein the plates of the plurality of secondary plates are substantially perpendicular to the primary plate. 
     
     
         13 . The roller shield of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plates of the plurality of secondary plates overlaps at least one adjacent plate of the plurality of secondary plates. 
     
     
         14 . The roller shield of  claim 11 , wherein the primary plate includes hooks that are configured to engage the laundry machine framework to secure the roller shield to the laundry machine. 
     
     
         15 . The roller shield of  claim 14 , wherein the primary plate defines a notch that provides clearance for a roller shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The roller shield of  claim 15 , wherein the hooks straddle the notch. 
     
     
         17 . The roller shield of  claim 15 , wherein the plates of the plurality of secondary plates each include (i) a base portion that protrudes outward from the primary plate and (ii) an extension portion that extends upward at an angle from an opposing end the base portion relative to the primary plate. 
     
     
         18 . A laundry machine comprising:
 a drum support roller rotatably secured to a bulkhead via a shaft; and   a shield having (i) a primary plate disposed between the drum support roller and the bulkhead and (ii) secondary plates protruding outward from a lower end of the primary plate, wherein the secondary plates are (i) aligned in an array that extends radially about a lower end of the drum support roller and (ii) are collectively configured to catch debris from the drum support roller.   
     
     
         19 . The laundry machine of  claim 18 , wherein the primary plate includes hooks that are configured to engage the bulkhead to secure the shield to the laundry machine, the primary plate defines a notch that provides clearance for the shaft, and the hooks straddle the notch. 
     
     
         20 . The laundry machine of  claim 18 , wherein each of the secondary plates include (i) a base portion that protrudes outward from the primary plate and (ii) an extension portion that extends upward at an angle from an opposing end the base portion relative to the primary plate.